Broom



J. R. KINNEY .Feb, 4, 1936.

BROOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y E N m K R J Feb. 4, 1936.

4 3 9 1 QJ m 2 e R B m 0 J d e l 1 F 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0000 0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00000 @0000 0000 E 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000 0000 0000/, 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 1\0000 0000 0 0 0000 000 0000 0 0 0000 0000 0000 ,0000 0000 0000 0000 00 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 w u o o o om .mu 0000 0000 0000 4 0 0 0 00000 @0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0 00 0000 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000 fl 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 7 0 0 0 0 fl 0 0 0 0 10000 0000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I In 0 '0 000% 00000 0000 d m O 6 b O 0 O O O O G O O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O C? 0 0 0 3 C 0 .17

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to brooms and particularly to devices of this character adapted to sweep streets, floors, lawns and similar surfaces, the object of the invention being the production of a durable device which will effectually clean any surface on which it is used.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims. Of the drawings Figure 1 represents an elevation of a broom embodying the features of the present invention. Figure 2 represents a transverse section of the 'same on line 2, 2 on' Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents an end view of the same showing the broom in use.

Figure 4 represents an elevation of one of the U-shaped spring metal members to be used in the broom.

Figure 5 represents a plan of the broom head.

Figure 6 represents a plan of the perforated plate showing at one end a view of the U-shaped metal members inserted through the perforations thereof.

Figure 7 represents an inverted plan of the same.

Figure 8 represents an inverted plan of one end of the perforated plate showing a few of the U- shaped members inserted therein, said figure being drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 represents a'transverse section of the portion of the head of the broom and showing one U-shaped member inserted through two of the perforations therein, said figure being drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 10 represents a vertical section of a modified form of broom particularly adapted for cleaning car rails.

Figure 11 represents a plan view of the plate carrying the spring metal U-shaped members, and

Figure 12 represents a modification showing the U-shaped members inserted through the perforated plate in pairs contacting with each other.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, i8 is a head piece having centrally disposed in the length thereof inclined tapered holes ll extending laterally in opposite directic-ns from the top thereof, either hole being adapted to receive the tapered end I2 of a handle 13 of usual construction.

Beneath the head piece H1 is a plate or bar I4 secured thereto by means of screws l 5 with washers l6 surrounding these screws between head piece iii and plate M.

The plate i4 is of considerable thickness and is provided with a plurality of rows of holes H which are staggered as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the holes in one row being midway between the holes of the adjacent rows.

A strip I8 of spring metal is bent into the form shown in Fig. 4 with the side portions l9 extending downwardly from the central portion thereof.

In assembling the broom the side portions l9 of this metal member 68 are moved into parallelism and forced downwardly through two of the openings I"! with the central portion of said metal member l8 resting on the upper face of the plate 14.

The washers l6 are the same thickness as that of the metal strip i8.

Any number of rows of holes Il may be used depending on the nature of the work to be done by the broom.

Preferably the number of rows is as indicated in the drawings and the holes in every two rows are oppositely disposed and separated a distance less than the length of the central portion of the U-shaped member [8, l9.

When the U-shaped member 18, i9 is disposed in a pair of holes H, the side portions l9 thereof will abut the walls of said holes so as to prevent these side portions is spreading apart, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In other words, the side portions I9 of the members i 8 are nearly parallel under normal conditions.

The members is are rectangular in cross section and the longer sides thereof are always parallel to each other and to one of the sides of the plate I4.

When the members l8, is are mounted in the plate l4 those in one line are opposite the spaces in another line and are nearly as wide as these spaces.

Consequently, when the broom is in use and the members l8, it! are in the position indicated in Fig. 3, the working ends of these members are lit substantially alined so that they will contact with most every substance on the surface being swept.

When the broom is in use the members l8, l9 will be bent backward as shown in Fig, 3 until those in front contact with those in rear and are stiffened or reenforced by contact therewith.

As soon as the broom is slightly lifted from the surface being swept, the spring tension of the metal member i9 will return the side portions thereof to their normal separated position and this will have the tendency of making the broom self-cleaning.

The broom is very durable and most efficient in cleaning pavements, garage floors and many similar surfaces.

If after constant use any of the members l8, :9 become set, the handle l3 may be removed from one hole i and secured in the other hole I I.

When this has been done the members I8, l9 will soon be returned to their normal position after the broom has been used for a short time.

If any of the members [8, i9 become broken or unduly worn, they may be removed and new ones substituted therefor by detaching the plate 14 from head piece IE3.

It will be noted that the members 18 are always under tension with a tendency for the side members is of each member Hi to spread apart.

This greatly facilitates the sweeping and also assists in removing the sweepings from the broom when it is lifted from the surface being swept.

When the broom is used for ordinary sweeping, the longer sides of the members ie are parallel with the longer side of the bar it.

It has been found, however, that for certain purposes it is preferable to have these longer sides :9 of the members l8 parallel with a shorter side of said bar as indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

When thus constructed the broom is particularly adapted for use in cleaning car rails and narrow spaces.

If it is desired to stiffen the members 18, two of such members may be inserted in a pair of holes, one of said members being disposed Within the other and in contact therewith, as shown in Fig. 12.

When using the broom the front members IQ of one set of rows may be brought into alinement with the front members of intermediate rows and form a substantially continuous line under light spring tension.

By applying more pressure to the broom the members IQ of all rows may be brought successively into contact with each other and into alinement with the members IQ of intermediate rows, thus reenforcing the front lines of members and giving greater rigidity to all of the members I9.

By this means light sweeping or heavy sweeping may be effected by the same broom as desired.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood readily without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A broom provided with a head having projecting perpendicularly therefrom a plurality of normally separated U-shaped members of fiatsided spring metal arranged transversely and regularly spaced in parallel rows, one row overlapping an adjacent row, the free ends being adapted under sweeping pressure to be moved between and into alinement with said adjacent row while under spring tension tending to return said members to their original positions upon removal of said pressure,

2. A broom provided with a head and a plate secured thereto, said plate having a plurality of elongated openings therein through which project perpendicularly a plurality of elongated U- shaped members of fiat-sided spring metal arranged transversely and regularly spaced in parallel rows, one row overlapping an adjacent row, the free ends being adapted under sweeping pressure to be moved between and into alinement with said adjacent row while under spring tension tending to return said members to their original position upon removal of said pressure, said proiecting portions being of sufficient length and thinness to permit ready curvature thereof.

JUS'IUS R. KINNEY. 

